Road clearance device



May 24, 1932' E AZCPARD] 1,860,217

ROAD CLEARANCE DEVICER Filed Aug. 27. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet ,1

/ ATTO NEY.

May 24-, 1932. I AZOPARD] 1,860,217

ROAD CLEARANCE DEVICE Filed Aug. 27. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTO E'qyxue) 9207177306 /03 2 3 /2" a ATTORNEY.

Patented May 24, 1932 EMANUEL nzoimnn r, on nntnreoi w', MICHIGAN ROAD omen-Amen nEvIon o A licationfiled August 27, 1930; Serial No, 4781014.

My invention relates 150 new and USfUQl improvement in a road cleefanee devic for vehicles and has for its obge'ctt'he' provision of mechanism whereby the road in front of the vehicle'or that particular" part ofthe road or street over which the wheels" of the vehicle will pass may be cleared of loose: olo' strTIctions and lo se foreign material prior to the passage of the vehicl 'wheels' there over;

clearing the path ot the road or street over which vehicle wheelsma'y pass of loose ob:

sci-acti ns, to render the driving, oft'h'e vehicle 'easier and to reduce the wear on the v'e'hlc'l-e tires. v V h i inothel'i object of the invention isfthe rovision in a device of this class of a rotating member which will serve to sweep the road Q or street in front of the" vehicle.

Another object of theinvention isthe provision in a device of this'class ofan engagement portionrad'apted for engaging heavy objects' which may be positioned in the path of the vehicle Wheels. a a

Another ohjectof theinvention is the provision of a clearance device of this class which may be easily and quickly moved to operative or inoperative position. 7 Another ohject ofthe vention showing: it applied with parts Broken away and pa rts shown in section.

5 Fig. 2 is a'fra'ginentary topiplan view ofa vehiclesh'owingithe invention applied. o 3'is a sectional view taken on line 3.3

of Fig. 1

0 on line HofFig. 3;

. Fig. 4' is a fragmentary s'ectihnal view taken Itis another object of the invention, by

' and the stationary hrafkedrnm 1 8.

invention the pro vision ofa device of this class which will he collar 22 Pivotallyconnected to the shaft 22 is 'anexten'sion shaft l A still) part of this specification, and:

Fig. 5is a sectional view taken on line ofFige, I j Fig. dis a view taken on line6i6 of Fig.2!

Fig. '1 is an enlarged fraigrnentary'sectional .7 view taken online 7 of Fig. 1f,

Fig. 8' is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8 -8 of Fig.1.

Fig. 10' is a view taken Fig. 9.

Figl 11 is an en'larged sectional view through the operating mecha ism;

The invention is intended primarily for? use on vehicles such as automobiles and the" like withwhicli pneumatic tires are used. Bi 5 V clearing'the road; of-loose obstflibtiohs'fih as loose rocks, bricks, nails, glass, etcLjtlhQcOi ij; fort of riding is increas d and the-likelihood of excessive wear n the tire and the u cture w. of the same is reduced the minimum v i i In the drawings I have shownthje'invntifon used with a vehicle Wheelwhich is'irotaitaloly mounted on theaxle' 1 5 and Whic'h isproVid ed with the pneumati'c t'ire 16, the spokes 15-7, The chassis rails 19 are illustrated asje'x; 7

tending at right anglesto the axis 1 5; Pro? jected' through one of the Qhas'sisrafils I9 is V a shaft 20 having a o'ol'lar21 n1o1 1ntedthereon to prevent longit idin'al movement of the 30 shaft 20. The shaft 20 'i's connected: w n s;- tension shaft 22 which is extendedythrdugh the oth'er chassis rail lean-(1' prev-idea with a shaft 24ispivotallyi connectedtothebracket' 25' which is mounted on thebrak e drum 18 and engages in the sleeve 2 61 li i xedlyih'oiint'ed ontheextensi'on24' is a sleeveQGQhaYing'the "1 cranka'rrn 27 pre' ct'ed otitw'ardlyifroni ad; jacent one end. This crank" arm is connected endfiof which is pivota'lly connected to thfeeye bolt29which is providhdwithgthenut seen a, l gaging'in the c'h'ai'nber'3l' formed in the collar" 32. This collar 32 is fixedly m0unted' em:

, bracingrelatien (in-the sleeve 33. nilhraekee in the connecting link 34 and extending outwardly from which is the threaded extension 40 which threads into the socket 41 formed in the rod 42. The'link 34 is provided with yoke arms 35 and 36 which embrace the bracket 37 and to which the bracket 37 is pivotally mounted as shown in Fig. 7. The shaft 42 slidably engages in the sleeve 33. This sleeve 33 is provided with longitudinally extending slots 45 and 46 in which engage pins 44 which are projected through the shaft 43.; which slidably engages in the sleeve 33. A spring 47 is positionedin the sleeve 33, one end there of engaging the inner end of the shaft 43 and the other end engaging the inner end of the establishes communication between the groove 54 and the interior of the cup shaped portion 50. of the hub cap through the. axially directed passage 56 so that lubricant delivered through the lubricant valve 57 into the interior of the cup shaped'portion 50 of the hub'cap may are positioned 7 from the collar serve to lubricate the roller bearings 59 which inthe groove 52and engaged b'ythe collar 58 which embraces the flange 51. Spaced lugs 60 and 61 project outwardly V 58 and are attached to the stud 62' which engages therebetween and which is threaded into the sleeve 63 so as to engage one end of the spring 64, thecother end of which engages the stub shaft 65 which is slidably inserted in the sleeve 63 and retained therein by the pin 66 which is projected therethrough' and ridesin thelongitudinal slots 67. Pivotally connected at one end to the'outer end of the stubshaft 65 is an arm 68, the oppositeend of which is attached to the cover plate'101.,

Swingably mounted on the forward end of the housing 48 1s a'bumper plate 7 O." Spaced lugs 71 project inwardly from this bumper plate at opposite'ends and engagein the removement ofithe bumper plate 8 the housing. 7

'cesses 69 formed in the forward side of the housing 48. Threaded in the housing .48 so as to project through the recesses 69 and throughenlarged openings formed in the lug 71 are pins or screws 72 which serve topivotally mount the bumper plate on thehousing 48. Embracing thesepins or screws 7 2 is a spring 73 which serves to resist rocking relatively to A yieldable pad 74 is positioned between the bumper plate 70 and the forward side of the housing 48 to serve as a shock'ab'sorber where stationary objects are struckjby; the

bumper plate 70. Because of the enlarged openings in the lugs 71, sudden blows delivered to the bumper plate70 are not transmitted to the pin 72. In Fig. l'this bumper plate is shown in dotted lines as rocked against the tension of the spring 73 so that should stationary objects be encountered, the

bumper-plate 73 will rock to the dotted line position shownin Fig. 1 and thus serve as an inclined. body to ride over the stationary object and serve to eflevatethe mechanism as the vehicle is driven forwardly until the stationary obstruction has been cleared.

A shaft 7 5 extends transversely of the housing 48 and is rotatably mounted thereon, this shaft beingjournaled at its opposite ends in bearings 76 and 77 and having at its opposite ends peripheral. grooves 78 and- 79 which communicate through radial passages with the axially, directed lubricant passage 80 which is in communication with the passage 81 with the lubricant chamber 82.

lubricant supply pipe 83 is'jfastened in 'communication with the chamber 82 for'deliverg ing lubricant thereto. This pipe 83 come municatesthrough the pipes 84, 85 and 86' and the pet cock 87 with the oil 'panorlubrh cant supply reservoirof the vehicle, Mounted fixedlyon the shaft 75 is a. traction wheel 88. It will 'bejnoted that the shaft 751is mounted at the rear of the housing 48and this traction wheel 88 serves as a support for the housing when it is moved'into operative position so that the traction} wheel 88 may contact with the ground orjsurface'over which thevehicle is driven,

Fixedly mounted on the shaft 5 bevel gear 89 which meshes with av bevel gear 90 fixedly mounted on the shaft 91.". bevel gear 92 fixedly mounted on the'shaft' 9l meshes with the gear 93 which-is "fixedly mounted on the shaft 94. 'This shaft 94 is journaled in bearings 95 and 98 and is provided at its opposite ends with the peripheral lubricant grooves96 communicating with the axially directedipassage 97 which is in'co'm munication with the" chamber 82. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 94 is a bristle'bearing' sleeve 99 which serves as a brush or sweeping element. for removing obstructions en countered; It is believed obvious that' when the whee1 88 is rotating, the brushelement is also rotating in the opposite direction.

arm 1O2 is attached to and projects radially outwardly from the shaft extension 22 and .is c'onn'ected by the rod 103to the.

operating handle 104 as shown in Figs...2'

and 11.. This operating :handle 104'projects of these 'slotsisfinclined lto conform to the through the dash 105 of the vehicle and through a fiange'on the head 114 which'is' secured to the dash 105. Projecting radially f outwardly from the operating handle 104 intermediate its ends'is a plate 106 in which are formed slots107 and 108. One 'face109" inclination of the face of the nose 110 of the dog 111 which en ages in the notch. This dog 111 is swinga ly mounted on the head 114. One end of the spring 113 is attached to the dog 111 and the other end is attached to the head 114. A release rod is slidably projected through the head 114 and is adapted to engage the recess 111 formed in the dog 111 so that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 11 an inward pressing of the release rod 112 will release the nose 110 from the notch in which it is engaged and permit slidable movement of the handle 104.

In operation, under normal conditions, when the road over which the vehicle is being propelled is free from loose obstructions, the handle 104 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 11 thus rocking the shaft 102 so as to swing the housing 48 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to set the mechanism into operation for clearing the path of the vehicle from obstructions, the release rod 112 would be shoved inwardly to disengage the nose 110 from the notch 108 and the operating handle 104 would.

then be shoved inwardly to permit a downward rocking of the shaft 102 and thus permitting a swinging of the housing 48 into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The traction wheel 88 would then be rotated and effect a rotation of the brush for sweeping purposes. It will be noted that this brush rotates on an axis inclined to the transverse axis of the vehicle on which used so that the sweeping would be forwardly and outwardly toward one side of the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The housing is mounted in a floating condition by virtue of the slidable relation of the members 43 and in the sleeves 38 and 63 respectively so that the mountings on the brake drum will be relieved ofsudden shock or jar and a durable structure provided. It is believed obvious that the moving parts are well lubricated.

By virtue of the pivotal connections which have been described, the angular turning of the front wheels of the vehicle will not affect the operativeness of the device as sufficient pivotal connections have been provided for such universal movement as may be necessary.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described adapted for use with a vehicle wheel capable of angular turning, supporting members projectmovable relatively to sald supporting mernbers; a sweeping element in said housing; and yieldable means for resisting relative movement of said housing and saidsupporting members.

2. In a device of the class described adapted for use with a vehicle wheel capable of angular turning, supporting members projecting forwardly of and downwardly from said vehicle wheel; a housing supported onand movable relativelyvto' said supporting members; a sweeping element in said housing; yieldable means for resisting relative movement of said housing and said supporting members; and means for swinging said housing to operative and. inoperative position.

' In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

EMANUEL AZOPARDI. 

